7 stats on OTC drugs in America
February 5, 2013 5:18 PM
Trillion-dollar fix
Treating ailments with over-the-counter medicines has become a $1.9 trillion dollar business globally, as 85% of Americans have taken some form of OTC medication.
Prevention
32% of Americans avoided a trip to the hospital or emergency room because they used OTCs to treat their symptoms.
Cost control
88% of Americans agree that responsible use of OTC medicines helps lower their health care costs.
Cost effective
35% of Americans believe its cheaper to buy OTC and increase the dosage to get prescription strength.
Reliable sources
People get information on OTCs mostly from their doctors (39%) and families (39%).
Unlikely sources
People are least likely to get information about OTC from the news (10%) and patient stories (5%).
Self-medication
86% feel confident self-diagnosing and treating symptoms with OTCs.
